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McGuigan boosts Tyrone

Tyrone 0-16 Laois 0-14: TYRONE CELEBRATED a double boost at Healy Park, where a first win of the season coincided with Brian…

Mon Mar 17 2008 - 00:00

Tyrone 0-16 Laois 0-14:TYRONE CELEBRATED a double boost at Healy Park, where a first win of the season coincided with Brian McGuigan's return to action following a two-year absence.

The former All Star and double All-Ireland winner came on as a substitute 10 minutes from the end to bring his injury nightmare to a conclusion. And he started the move that led to the late Colm McCullagh point that got the home side back in front and effectively clinched victory.

"That's what Brian McGuigan is good at. He's a real control player, he has good vision, he makes things happen, he doesn't panic," said manager Mickey Harte.

"He still has the same silky skills, despite the fact that he has been out for two years, and that's some bonus to have on any team, and obviously he showed those qualities and was instrumental in that important score."

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With both sides having taken just a point from their first three games, Harte knew the importance of this clash.

"Neither of us had played particularly badly, even though we only had a point each," he added.

After racing into a five-point lead, Tyrone were pegged back by the determined visitors, who had Michael Tierney in deadly accurate form from free kicks.

The home side led 0-8 to 0-5 at half-time, with Owen Mulligan contributing three points, before a hamstring injury forced him off six minutes into the second period.Laois had drawn level by then and with five minutes to play, the sides were still deadlocked on 0-14 each.

But McCullagh's late point was followed by wing back Davy Harte's third score and Tyrone held on to claim both points.

TYRONE: J Devine; PJ Quinn, J McMahon, D Carlin; D Harte (0-3), C Gormley, R McMenamin; C Holmes (0-1), E McGinley (0-2); R Mellon, R Mulgrew (0-1), S Cavanagh (0-1); T McGuigan (0-2, 2 frees), C McCullagh (0-2), O Mulligan (0-3, 2 frees). Subs: P Jordan for McMahon (ht), N Gormley (0-1) for Mulligan (41 mins), M Swift for Carlin (41 mins), B McGuigan for Mellon (61 mins), P Donnelly for Holmes (67).

LAOIS: M Nolan; C Ryan, D Rooney, C Healy; P O'Leary (0-1), J O'Loughlin, P McMahon; P Clancy, K Meaney; R Munnelly, B McCormack (0-3), B Sheehan (0-1); M Tierney (0-7, six frees), B Quigley, C Parkinson (0-1). Subs: C Kelly (0-1) for Munnelly (12 mins), P Lawlor for Meaney (59)

Referee: J Bannon (Longford).